Single use packaged pad

ABSTRACT

A single use pad impregnated with an oily liquid is disposed within substantially flat packaging that is opaque and leakproof and is openable by tearing at a tear notch. In one embodiment, the package may be torn open and a pad impregnated oily liquid may be removed therefrom, to apply the oily liquid to the skin.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. design patent application Ser. No. 29/885,798 filed Feb. 28, 2023; a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/567,065 filed Dec. 31, 2021; and a continuation-in-part of PCT application no. PCT/US2022/54338 filed Dec. 30, 2022. Each of these prior applications is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The technology herein relates to single use packaging, and in particular to packaging for a single use pad impregnated with a liquid or fluid for application to the skin by wiping.

BACKGROUND

It may be desirable to apply a small, metered quantity of oily liquid or fluid to the skin such as for suntanning, tattoo brightening, or other purposes.

Single use packets for olive oil or coconut oil are known. These packets contain the oil itself—but not any way to apply the oil to the skin. To apply the oil to the skin, one must either rub the oil on by hand or use an additional absorbent material such as paper towel. This can be messy.

What is needed is convenient, single use packaging for wiping an oily liquid or fluid onto the skin without making a mess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of example single use packaging.

FIG. 2 shows a front plan view of the single use packaging.

FIGS. 3 & 4 show different views of opening the FIG. 1 packaging using a tear notch.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show different views of the packaging after an end portion of the packaging has been torn off.

FIG. 7 shows looking down inside the packaging after the end portion has been torn off.

FIG. 8 shows deforming the opened packaging to make extraction of a contained oil-impregnated pad easier.

FIGS. 9 & 10 show extracting the contained oil-impregnated pad from the packaging.

FIGS. 11A-11H show an example process for unfolding the folded oil-impregnated pad after it has been extracted from the packaging.

FIGS. 12 & 13 show side and end views respectively of the single use packaging.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1, 2, 12 and 13 are different views of an example single use packaging 10. The packaging 10 in the example shown is rectangular with exemplary dimensions of 5.5″ long×2.75″ wide. The package is of a convenient size and thinness to be placed into a back pocket of a pair of jeans, a wallet, a small purse, etc.

The packaging 10 is nominally approximately 0.1 inches in thickness but as can be seen in the Figures, the thickness around the peripheral (sealing) region 12 of the packaging 10 may quite thin (e.g., 0.013″) whereas the packaging bulges slightly in a center portion 14 to on the order of 0.1 inches. This bulging center portion 14 is formed of opposing walls of flexible material sandwiching a sealed interior space or chamber in which rests a folded pad impregnated with an oily fluid or liquid. The amount of oily fluid or liquid contained within the interior sealed space or chamber is less than an amount required to stretch or balloon the opposing walls uniformly outward, eliminating the risk that the walls might rupture if external pressure were applied to the packaging such as by sitting on the packaging. Instead, when pressure is applied to the walls, the oily fluid within the packaging redistributes itself by flowing slightly away from the point at which pressure is applied. The bulging center portion 14 may thus typically have a slightly non-uniform thickness—with the flexible wall material composing the center portions deforming inwardly as one depresses any particular portion and the oily fluid within the packaging redistributes itself. However, most of the oily fluid within the packaging impregnates a folded sheet of absorbent material disposed within the interior space or chamber, so the oily fluid generally does not move much within the packaging even when the packaging is squeezed or flattened.

The packaging may comprise an oil-impervious sheet that is on the order of 2 mils (0.0002 inches) in thickness. This sheet may comprise aluminum foil laminated with monoaxially oriented polypropylene (MOPP), a metalized plastic (e.g., a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheet on which an extremely thin film e.g., 0.5 micrometers of aluminum is deposed using physical vapor deposition) or other similar barrier film. In one embodiment, a clear plastic polyethylene sheet may be disposed on the inner surface of the sheet to provide a barrier impervious to oil and gas leakage, thereby preventing the oily fluid within the packaging from leaking out of the packaging while preventing air or oxygen from leaking into the packaging. In one embodiment, the sheet is opaque and thus prevents light from reaching the interior of the packaging. Keeping the contained oily fluid away from oxygen and light preserves the freshness of the oily fluid (which in some embodiments may include aromatics or other sensitive compounds or materials that would otherwise decompose).

The outer surfaces of the packaging may be printed with pictures, text, colors, etc. The package's periphery is heat-sealed to provide a leak-proof bond that includes an attractive design of small reflective projecting dimples (alternating rows of 5 dimples and 4 dimples) about the package's periphery. The resulting packaging is tough and quite tear-resistance except when intentionally torn at the tear notch shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to release the folded pad within the interior space or chamber.

The outer periphery of the packaging 10 (approximately ¼″ on each outer edge) is thus flat and has a graspable, textured pattern on each of the top and bottom surfaces of the package. Such textured pattern results from a heat sealing process and is very resistant to separation or bursting.

In one embodiment, a tear notch or perforation is provided in the upper left-hand corner of the packaging on one edge approximately ⅜″ from an adjacent edge, to facilitate the user opening the package by tearing it at the tear notch or perforation, and tearing the entire end portion of the packaging off (see FIGS. 5 & 6 ) to gain access to the interior chamber. The amount of oily fluid contained within the interior chamber is less than an amount that would drip or spill out when the packaging is opened in this way—rather, most of the oily fluid remains absorbed by the folded pad within the packaging so it does not flow out of the packaging when the packaging is opened.

In one embodiment, the folded pad may have overall dimensions of 4⅛″×1⅝″ as folded and encased within the sealed packaging. The pad may consist of for example a 7⅞″×5⅝″ sheet 0.0007 inches thick that is folded into four panels lengthwise and then folded approximately but not exactly in half (the distance from a center fold to one end may be slightly over 4″ and the distance from the center fold to the other end may be 3¾″).

The pad is designed, dimensioned and configured to be easily extracted from the interior chamber of the packaging 10 by opening the packaging as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 & 6 , deforming the packaging with the hand such as shown in FIG. 8 , and reaching into the now-enlarged interior chamber with a finger and thumb to extract the pad from the packaging (see FIG. 9 ). As the pad is extracted from the packaging, it may often unfurl by grasping a corner between two fingers and unfurling it (see FIGS. 9 & 10 ) into a flat sheet as shown in FIGS. 11A et seq.

FIGS. 11A-11H show how the folded pad can be unfolded once extracted from the packaging. FIG. 11B shows unfolding the pad in a first direction about a fold dividing the pad into two halves, to form a long, thin pad (FIG. 11C). The long thin pad may then be unfolded in the other direction accordian-style as shown in FIGS. 11D (first unfolding), 11E (second unfolding), 11F (third unfolding) and 11G (fourth unfolding) to provide a large flat 8-paneled sheet that exposes approximately 8 times the surface area of the pad as compared to its fully folded-up configuration of FIG. 11A.

Referring to FIG. 11G, example dimensions of the eight panels of the fully unfolded pad may be as follows (all dimensions in inches):

A 1.5 × 4 B 1.5 × 4 C 1.5 × 4 D 1.125 × 4  E    1.5 × 3.875 F    1.5 × 3.875 G    1.5 × 3.875 H  1.125 × 3.875

Note that the panel sizes are not all the same; the non-uniformity in panel sizes is helpful when successively unfolding the pad.

However, in use, the user may not need to fully unfold the pad to the configuration shown in FIG. 11H before using it to wipe oily fluid onto the skin. Depending on how much skin area is to be covered with oily fluid, the user may wish to use the pad in its fully folded configuration of FIG. 11A or only partially unfolded configuration such as shown in FIG. 11C when starting to wipe the pad onto the skin. A smaller (more folded up) form factor for the pad may prevent excess oily fluid from getting on adjacent clothing or other areas and may delay the application of oily fluid impregnated within the inner folds of the pad so the user can successively unfold the pad as she wipes additional skin areas or applies additional oily fluid from the pad onto the skin. On the other hand, if the skin surface area to which the oily fluid is to be applied is quite large, the user may wish to mostly or fully unfold the pad to its FIG. 11H unfolded configuration before dragging or wiping the pad across the surface of the skin.

Example form factor for the packaging is L 110×T 185×H 60 mm (the packaging can have different measurements and will include the pad which when unfolded may have these measurements:

L 185 mm×T 185 mm.

These measurements are exemplary only and can differ.

Pad Composition

The pad is not dry but instead preabsorbed with an oily liquid. The pad can be made from most nonwovens. In one example embodiment, the pads may comprise a synthetic fiber bicomponent fleece PET/PE with the following specifications:

-   -   100% viscose, perforated, water jet solidified 50 g/sqm     -   Chemically solidified fleece made of 80% Vis/20% binder, smooth         23 g/sqm     -   Biko PE/PP hot air solidified, bulky 50 g/sqm     -   PP or PET thermally solidified, smooth 27 g/sqm or 50 g/sqm.

Material may be:

-   -   88% Polyester, 12% Viscose     -   or     -   100% Cotton     -   or     -   80% bamboo viscose (bamboo fiber made from naturally grown         renewable plantation bamboo) and 20% Cotton.

Therefore, in one embodiment, the pad consists of all natural plant-based materials such as cotton and/or bamboo.

EXAMPLE I

Each pad is packaged independently in a foil package to retain the fluid impregnated in the pad. The package in one embodiment comprises foil sandwiched between thin sheets of polyethylene plastic. The amount of fluid impregnated in each pad is carefully controlled to provide a consistent application over a given surface area.

EXAMPLE II

Pads can have different dimensions depending on the amount of fluid to be delivered.

EXAMPLE III

The pad may be impregnated with one or more natural botanical oils that exude a fragrance, and/or a fragrance agent may be added to natural botanical oils. The fluid or oily liquid that is used to impregnate the pad may be as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/567,065 filed Dec. 31, 2021 and/or PCT application no. PCT/US2022/54338 filed 12/30/2022, each incorporated by reference.

EXAMPLE IV

To use the pad, the user tears open the package and extracts the pad from its packaging and grasping it in the hand. The user may fully or partially unfold the pad if it is folded and rubs the pad over the surface of skin. The absorbency of the pad is such that the pad deposits a thin film of oil onto the skin's surface.

Depending on the technology and processability due to the non-woven properties, nonwovens can be made of water jet-consolidified viscose fibers or thermally solidified synthetic fibers, e.g., B. made of PP, PE, PET, chemically solidified fleece made of pulp and chem. Binder or hot air-solidified fleece made of e.g. B. PE/PP, PET/PE or PET/CoPET bicomponent fibers can be used. Single-layer and multi-layer variants are possible. Tests have shown that the grammages of nonwovens for pads are >45 g/sqm up to approx. 180/sqm single layer, multi-layer varies depending on the fibers and properties of the individual layers

The hydrophilic or hydrophobic properties of the product can be achieved by equipping the fleece (coating or avivage).

One example embodiment for the Pad is to use a synthetic fiber Bicomponent fleece PET/PE which is punched on an ultrasonic cutting system, 50 g/sqm approx. 0.7 mm thick. A multi-layered design is possible, too. In case of a 100% viscose variant (biodegradable), mechanical punching is more desirable. The stamped parts are then manually inserted into the dosing and packaging system, dosed with oil and packed into the foil packaging.

The quantity of fluid sprayed onto the folded pad is controlled by the pressure of the spray and the duration the folded pad remains in the spray. The spraying happens after the pad is cut and folded. The fluid is sprayed into the middle of the pad before it is enclosed in packaging. The impregnated pad is then inserted into plastic or foil envelopes that are heat sealed or sealed otherwise into flat, opaque, single pad pouches that prevent light from entering, prevent liquid or vapor from escaping and prevent oxygen from entering. The single pad is thus sealed very soon after it was soaked with the fluid. Such process and packaging preserves the ingredients such as any aromatics or evaporative elements of the fluid, prevent them from being degraded by oxygen or light, and keeps the fluid fresh without the need for any preservatives.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A product comprising: a flat, fully sealed pouch comprising first and second sheets of laminated metal and plastic layers, the first and second sheets being heat sealed at peripheral edges thereof and being opaque to light, impervious to air from entering or escaping, and prevent oily liquid within the pouch from leaking out or otherwise escaping, the first and second sheets defining an interior therebetween; and an absorbent folded pad disposed within the cavity, the absorbent folded pad impregnated with a metered quantity of the oily liquid, the absorbent folded pad being folded or foldable into at least six panels.
 2. The product of claim 1 wherein the pad comprises cotton or a blend of cotton and bamboo fiber.
 3. The product of claim 1 wherein the oily liquid comprises a botanical blend.
 4. The product of claim 1 wherein the oily liquid comprises aromatics that remain fresh due to barrier properties of the pouch.
 5. The product of claim 1 wherein the pad comprises synthetic or natural fiber such as bicomponent fleece PET/PE that is punched on an ultrasonic cutting system, 50 g/sqm approx. 0.7 mm thick.
 6. The product of claim 1 wherein the pad comprises a biodegradable 100% viscose variant.
 7. The product of claim 1 wherein the cut, folded pad is sprayed with a quantity of fluid, the quantity being controlled by the pressure of the spray and the duration the folded pad remains in the spray.
 8. The product of claim 7 wherein the fluid is sprayed into the middle of the pad before it is enclosed in packaging, and the fluid-impregnated pad is then inserted into plastic or foil envelopes that are heat sealed into flat, opaque, single pad pouches that prevent light from entering, prevent liquid or vapor from escaping and prevent oxygen from entering.
 9. The product of claim 1 wherein the pad is sealed within the packaging very soon after the pad is soaked with fluid, thereby preserving the ingredients such as any aromatics or evaporative elements of the fluid, preventing them from being degraded by oxygen or light, and keeping the fluid fresh without the need for any preservatives.
 10. The product of claim 1 wherein the pad comprises a sheet that is 0.7 mm thick.
 11. The product of claim 1 wherein the pad comprises a sheet having a mass of at least 50 grams per square meter. 